Beam antenna selectively oriented to vertical or horizontal position

ABSTRACT

An antenna system particularly adapted for use in citizen band transmission and reception utilizing a beam antenna wherein means are provided for selectively orienting the beam horizontally or vertically from a remote control point.

Uniteo States Patent Robinson [45] Apr. 17, 1973 l BEAM ANTENNA SELECTIVELY References Cited ORIENTED TO VERTICAL OR UNITED STATES PATENTS HORIZONTAL POSITION 2,642,567 6 1953 K' b ll l. .343 765 [761 Invent James of Lemma 3 213456 1011965 ..343i756 Street, Akron, Ohio 44305 [22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1972 Primary Examiner-Eli Lieberman 1 pp No: 229,134 Attorney-M. William Goodwin [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..343/765, 343/766 An antenna system particularly adapted for use in [51] Int. Cl. ..II0lq 3/00 citizen band transmission and reception utilizing a [58] Field of Search ..343/758, 763, 764, beam antenna wherein means are provided for selec- 343/765,882 tively orienting the beam horizontally or vertically from a remote control point.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BEAM ANTENNA SELECTIVELY ORIENTED TO VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL POSITION This invention relates to antennas for radio transmission and reception and more particularly to a novel and improved antenna system particularly adapted for use in citizen band transmission. It is common practice in citizen band transmissions from a base station to utilize a beam antenna comprising a plurality of parallel elongated elements. Under certain conditions and for certain purposes orienting the beam antenna with the elements extending vertically is desirable while under other circumstances and for other purposes it is desirable to orient the antenna wherein the beam elements are disposed horizontally. More particularly the horizontal orientation of the antenna is desired when a generally omni-directional pattern of transmission is desired, and the elements are located horizontally when a directional signal is desired. Additionally, the horizontal orientation of a multi-element beam antenna will provide greater selectivity in reception when there are stations on nearby frequencies interfering with the station which it is desired to receive.

It is a common practice to mount such beam antennas on a mast or tower of substantial height in order to improve the quality of transmission and reception as well as the distance which may be covered by a given signal strength. In most instances, where an omnidirectional antenna is desired or satisfactory, the antenna is mounted in fixed relation on the top of the mast or tower with the elements extending vertically. In those situations where it is desired to provide a directional antenna it is common practice to mount the antenna on a rotor or rotator carried by the mast or tower whereby the horizontally extending beam elements may be rotated in a horizontal plane from a remote location namely the operation station.

It is the principle object of the present invention to provide an antenna system comprising a multi-element beam antenna whereby the antenna may be selectively oriented either vertically or horizontally as desired from a remote location. It is further an object of the present invention to provide such an antenna system which is relatively simple and economical yet will provide extended trouble-free service.

It is still further an object of this invention to provide such an antenna system of a design which will facilitate maintanence of the system.

These and other objects of the invention and the manner of accomplishing the same will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of an antenna system constructed in accordance with the present prises an antenna tower or mast 10 of generally conventional construction. The mast comprises a plurality of parallel elongated tubular members 12 which, as shown in FIG. 2, may be three in number spaced apart as at the apices of a triangle. A plurality of cross braces 14 in the form of tubular members extend between each next adjacent pair of tubular members 12 to give rigidity and structural integrity to the tower. It will be understood to those skilled in the art that the tower 10 is firmly anchored at its base or otherwise so as not to be movable about its longitudinal axis. The tower is erected so that members 12 extend vertically and is intended to support an antenna at its upper end portion.

A conventional electrically energizable rotator 16 is mounted on the mast 10 intermediate its ends. More particularly, the rotator 16 has a base or fixed portion 18 suitably fixed as by bolting (not shown), to a plate 20 which is suitably fixed, as by welding, to a pluralty of cross braces 14 at a common elevation on the mast. The rotator 16 further comprises a second portion 22 carried by the base 18 for selective rotation thereto. The rotator 16 is disposed centrally of and within the confines of the elongated mast elements 12. The axis of rotation of the rotatable member 22 is disposed substantially coincidentally with the longitudinal axis of the tower 10. The rotator 16 is connected by suitable wiring, normally four in number although only one is shown for simplicity, to a control box 24. which normally will be located in the operating station adjacent the transmitter. As is conventional. the control box 24 includes a manually indexible pointer or knob 26 by means of which the rotatable portion 22 of the rotor may be selectively positioned about its axis of rotation at any one of a plurality of positions. These positions are indicated on a dial 28 underlying the control knob 26.

Detachably mounted by clamp means 29 on the rotatable portion 22 of the rotor 16 is a shaft "30 which extends coaxially of the rotor 16 and toward the upper end of the mast 10. The upper end of the shaft 30 is fixedly connected to a support member or plate 32 lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mast 10 and disposed within the confines of the tubular portions 12. A plurality of support members 34 are fixed at their lower ends to the periphery of the plate 32 and extend generally vertically upwardly. The support members 34 are spaced angularly about the axis of rotation of the shaft 30 and at their upper ends are connected in fixed relation to a flange 36 extending radially outwardly from the lower end of a tubular member 38 to rigidly connect the tubular member to said plate 32. The tubular member 38 extends vertically upwardly and outwardly beyond the upper end of the mast 10. The tubular member 38 is disposed coaxially of the shaft 30 and is supported intermediate its ends by a suitable bearing 40 carried adjacent the top of the mast 10 to provide radial support for the member 38.

The upper end of the tubular member 38 is provided with an enlarged cup shaped portion 42 containing a suitable bearing 44 disposed coaxially of the shaft 30 and providing radial support for an elongated shaft 45 which extends coaxially of and within the tubular member 38. The shaft 45 is detachably fixed at its lower end by releasable connection or clamp means 47 to a rotatable portion 46 of a second electrically energizable rotator 48, also disposed within the confines of the tubular members 12 of the mast 10. The rotator 48 is or may be identical with the rotator l6 and also includes a base or fixed portion 50 suitably fixedly connected, as by bolts (not shown), to the plate 32 supported on the shaft 30. The rotator 48 as in the case of the rotator 16 is connected by suitable wiring to a control box 52 adapted to be located alongside the control box 24 which has a control knob 54 and dial 56 for controlling and indicating the selectively rotated position of the portion 46 of the rotator 48 about the axis of the shaft 30.

The upper end of the shaft 45 has mounted coaxially thereon a bevel gear 58 which is in mesh with a bevel gear 60 mounted on a shaft 64 carried by brackets 66 which are supported on and within an enclosing housing 68 carried by the upper end of the tubular member 38 for rotation therewith. The shaft 62 extends at right angles to the shaft 45, and one end of the shaft 62 extends outwardly out of the housing 68 and carries at its outer end a conventional beam antenna 70. The antenna comprises a main support member 72 extending at right angles to the shaft 62. The main support member 72 carries at each of its ends an auxillary support member 74 which is parallel with the other support member 74 and each of which extends at right angles to the member 72. The auxiliary support members 74 each carry a plurality of beam elements 76 extending at right angles to the respective member 74 on which they are mounted and parellel to each other.

In the operation of the antenna system the control 52 may be actuated by selectively locating the control knob 54 so as to effect rotation of the shaft 45 which, through the right angle drive formed by the gears 58 and 60 will effect rotation of the antenna 70 in a vertical plane and between a position as shown in FIG. 3 in which the beam elements 76 extend horizontally and a position as shown in FIG. 4 in which the beam elements extend vertically. During rotation of the rotatable portion 48 of the rotor 46 the base 50 will be held stationary by the rotor 16, to which it is connected, by virtue of a brake which, as is conventional, is contained within the rotor 16 and prevents rotation of the portion 22 except when the rotor is energized through actuation of the control knob 26. In a like manner the rotor 48 contains a brake which prevents rotation of the portion 46 relative to the base 50 except when the rotor is energized by manipulation of the knob 54.

With the knob 54 positioned so as to locate the antenna in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 3, rotation of the pointer 26 will effect corresponding rotation of the portion 22 of the rotor 16 which through the shaft 30 will rotate the plate 32 to cause the tubular element 38 to be rotated carrying with it the rotor 48, housing 68 and antenna 70. Thus, the system provides means for selectively orienting the antenna in either the horizontal or vertical position as shown in FIGS. 3 and .4 and for effecting rotation of the antenna while it is in the horizontally directed position shown in FIG. 3 to provide directional transmission and reception.

The fact that the antenna may be rotated from the vertically oriented position shown in FIG. 3 also facilitates repair on the antenna without removing the same from the mast. For example, if the antenna were fixed in the vertical orientation, it would be extremely difiicult to reach the element 76 without dropping the entire mast or climbing the mast and removing the antenna and lowering it to the ground. On the other hand with the antenna system herein described it is asimple matter to rotate the antenna until it is either in the horizontally oriented position of FIG. 3 or in some intermediate position and then climb the mast whereupon the elements 76 can be readily reached for repair or replacement. Inasmuch as the rotor 48 is capable of providing 360 degrees of rotation of the shaft 45 and thus the antenna 70, it will be apparent that both arrays of element 76 may be brought into close-proximity with the top of the'mast by initially installing the antenna 70 in its vertically oriented position as shown in FIG. 4 while the rotator 48 is in a condition wherein the rotatable portion 46 thereof is at the midpoint of its travel. In this way, the antenna may be rotated from the position shown in FIG. 4 in either direction about the axis of the shaft 62 to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 3.

To facilitate further any maintanence or repair of the system as well as to prolong the life of the rotators 48 and 22, adjustable axial thrust bearing means 78 is provided in association with the tubular member 38. The thrust bearing means comprises an annular collar 80 coaxially received over the shaft 38. A plurality of set screws 82 or the like are threadably engaged in a plurality of recesses spaced equi-angularly about the axis of the collar and extending radially thereof. The set screws 82 provide means for locating the collar in a selected position intermediate the ends of the shaft or tubular member 38. The collar 80 is supported on three rollers 84 disposed equi-angularly about the axis of the member 38. The rollers 84 are carried by brackets 86 which are mounted on a plate 88 which is in turn fixedly supported on the mast- 10 such as by being welded to a plurality of cross braces 14. The collar 80 is adjusted longitudinally of the member 38 to provide that essentially all of the weight of the member 38 and parts mounted thereon, which include the housing 68, rotor 48 and antenna 70, will be carried by the collar through the rollers to the mast 10. In this way essentially none of the weight of these members is transmitted to the shaft 45 and thus to the rotor 48. Also be connecting the shaft 30 to the rotatable portion 22 of the rotor 16 after the aforedescribed adjustment of the collar 80 no weight will be carried by the rotating portion 22 of the rotor 16 except the weight of the shaft 30. This removal of axial loads from the rotators 16 and 48 considerably extends the service life of these components. Also, if it is desired to remove on of the rotators for service, the same can be accomplished by disconnecting the same from its respective support and either the shaft 30 or 46, as the case may be, while leaving the remainder of the system supported on the mast 10. This latter feature, of course, greatly facilitates maintenance of the system.

Thus, it can be seen that there has been provided a novel and improved antenna system fully satisfying the objects of the invention. While the antennasystem has been described in terms of a specific preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1 an antenna system comprising an antenna having a plurality of parallel beam elements, an elongated mast, a first rotor having a first portion fixed relative to said mast and a selectively rotatable second portion, a second rotor having a first portion and a selectively rotatable second portion, the axes of rotation of the second portions of said first and second rotor being in substantial alignment and extending generally coaxially of said mast, means drivingly connecting said second portion of said first rotor and said first portion of said second rotor, and means drivingly connecting said antenna to both said second portions of said first and second rotors for rotating said antenna in both a horizontal and a vertical plane including a right angle drive connected between said antenna and said second portion of said second rotor.

2. An antenna system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means includes an elongated tubular member extending coaxially of and fixed for movement with said second portion of said first rotor, and means carried by said tubular member for supporting at least a portion of said right angle drive.

3. An antenna system as claimed in claim 2 further including axial thrust bearing means carried by said mast and rotatably supporting said tubular member.

4. An antenna system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said thrust bearing means comprises an annular member disposed over said tubular member and located intermediate the ends of said tubular member, means for selectively adjusting said annular member longitudinally of said member to one of a plurality of fixed positions longitudinally of said tubular member, and a plurality of roller means carried by the mast and engaging the annular member to support the same on the mast for rotation generally coaxially of said first rotor.

5.. An antenna system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said last mentioned means includes a first shaft extending coaxially of and within said tubular member, said first shaft being drivingly connected at one end to said second portion of said second rotor and at the other end to the imput of said right angle drive, said means for supporting said right angle drive including a housing enclosing the same and carried at the other end of said tubular member, said right angle drive including a second shaft extending at right angles to said first shaft and outwardly of said housing and providing an output from said right angle drive, and means drivingly connecting said antenna to the outwardly extending portion of said second shaft.

6. An antenna system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first and second rotors are electrically energizable, and control means for selectively locating from a remote location each of said second portions of said rotors in one of a plurality of positions about its axis.

7. An antenna system as claimed in claim-5 including axial thrust bearing means carried by said mast and supporting said tubular member for rotation about its longitudinal axis.

8. An antenna system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means drivingly connecting said second portion of said first rotor and first portion of said second rotor includes a third shaft detachably connected at one end to said second portion of said first rotor and drivingly connected at its other end to said first portion of said second rotor.

9. An antenna system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said thrust bearing means comprises an annular member disposed over said tubular member and located intermediate the ends of said tubular member, means for selectively adjusting said annular member longitudinally of said member to one of a plurality of fixed positions longitudinally of said tubular member, and a plurality of roller means carried by the mast and engaging the annular member to support the same on the mast for rotation generally coaxially of said first rotor.

10. An antenna system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said second rotor is disposed above said first rotor, said third shaft extending vertically upwardly from the second portion of said first rotor and being fixed for rotation with a support member disposed beneath and fixed for movement with said first portion of said second rotor, and means extending upwardly from said support member and rigidly connecting said support member to the lower end portion of said tubular member.

11. An antenna system as claimed in claim 10 further including means detachably connecting said first portion of said first rotor to said mast, means detachably connecting said first portion of said second rotor to said support member, and means detachably connecting said one end of said first shaft to said second portion of said second rotor.

12. An antenna system as claimed in claim 1 1 further including radial thrust bearing means carried by said mast and supporting said tubular member intermediate said axial thrust bearing means and said bearings. 

1. AN ANTENNA SYSTEM COMPRISING AN ANTENNA HAVING A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL BEAM ELEMENTS, AN ELONGATED MAST, A FIRST ROTOR HAVING A FIRST PORTION FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID MAST AND A SELECTIVELY ROTATABLE SECOND PORTION, A SECOND ROTOR HAVING A FIRST PORTION AND A SELECTIVELY ROTATABLE SECOND PORTION, THE AXES OF ROTATION OF THE SECOND PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROTOR BEING IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT AND EXTENDING GENERALLY COAXIALLY OF SAID MAST, MEANS DRIVINGLY CONNECTING SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID FIRST ROTOR AND SAID FIRST PORTION OF SAID SECOND ROTOR, AND MEANS DRIVINGLY CONNECTING SAID ANTENNA TO BOTH SAID SECOND PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROTORS FOR ROTATING SAID ANTENNA IN BOTH A HORIZONTAL AND A VERTICAL PLANE INCLUDING A RIGHT ANGLE DRIVE CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID ANTENNA AND SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID SECOND ROTOR.
 2. An antenna system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means includes an elongated tubular member extending coaxially of and fixed for movement with said second portion of said first rotor, and means carried by said tubular member for supporting at least a portion of said right angle drive.
 3. An antenna system as claimed in claim 2 further including axial thrust bearing means carried by said mast and rotatably supporting said tubular member.
 4. An antenna system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said thrust bearing means comprises an annular member disposed over said tubular member and located intermediate the ends of said tubular member, means for selectively adjusting said annular member longitudinally of said member to one of a plurality of fixed positions longitudinally of said tubular member, and a plurality of roller means carried by the mast and engaging the annular member to support the same on the mast for rotation generally coaxially of said first rotor.
 5. An antenna System as claimed in claim 2 wherein said last mentioned means includes a first shaft extending coaxially of and within said tubular member, said first shaft being drivingly connected at one end to said second portion of said second rotor and at the other end to the imput of said right angle drive, said means for supporting said right angle drive including a housing enclosing the same and carried at the other end of said tubular member, said right angle drive including a second shaft extending at right angles to said first shaft and outwardly of said housing and providing an output from said right angle drive, and means drivingly connecting said antenna to the outwardly extending portion of said second shaft.
 6. An antenna system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first and second rotors are electrically energizable, and control means for selectively locating from a remote location each of said second portions of said rotors in one of a plurality of positions about its axis.
 7. An antenna system as claimed in claim 5 including axial thrust bearing means carried by said mast and supporting said tubular member for rotation about its longitudinal axis.
 8. An antenna system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means drivingly connecting said second portion of said first rotor and first portion of said second rotor includes a third shaft detachably connected at one end to said second portion of said first rotor and drivingly connected at its other end to said first portion of said second rotor.
 9. An antenna system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said thrust bearing means comprises an annular member disposed over said tubular member and located intermediate the ends of said tubular member, means for selectively adjusting said annular member longitudinally of said member to one of a plurality of fixed positions longitudinally of said tubular member, and a plurality of roller means carried by the mast and engaging the annular member to support the same on the mast for rotation generally coaxially of said first rotor.
 10. An antenna system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said second rotor is disposed above said first rotor, said third shaft extending vertically upwardly from the second portion of said first rotor and being fixed for rotation with a support member disposed beneath and fixed for movement with said first portion of said second rotor, and means extending upwardly from said support member and rigidly connecting said support member to the lower end portion of said tubular member.
 11. An antenna system as claimed in claim 10 further including means detachably connecting said first portion of said first rotor to said mast, means detachably connecting said first portion of said second rotor to said support member, and means detachably connecting said one end of said first shaft to said second portion of said second rotor.
 12. An antenna system as claimed in claim 11 further including radial thrust bearing means carried by said mast and supporting said tubular member intermediate said axial thrust bearing means and said bearings. 